Politician says Russia-EU rapprochement should be reciprocal

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum may become a starting point for warming Russia’s relations with the EU, a politician says

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ST. PETERSBURG, June 16 /TASS/. The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) may become a starting point for warming Russia’s relations with the European Union. However, this process should be reciprocal, Alexander Brechalov, a co-chairman of the central headquarters of the All-Russian Popular Front (ONF), told TASS on Thursday.

"I do hope that the St. Petersburg forum will become a starting point for the rapprochement and the warming of relations," Brechalov said adding he personally did not consider that to be the most urgent item on the agenda.

He explained that under the current circumstances he was most interested in how Russia and its people would use the opportunities, which they had.

"Today is the most favorable time for Russian business: new empty niches are emerging; it would be stupid not to use this situation [to our advantage]," Brechalov stressed.

As for rapprochement with foreign partners, he insisted that the process be reciprocal. But the state of things is such, he added, that Russia is coming under harsher criticism and additional requirements are being set up.

International organizations, which are supposed to be crisis moderators, are sticking to one and the same stance dictated by Washington, the Russian politician said.